We have roughly 12m this offseason. We know morey won't stand pat. From past history as evidence as well as he has said publicly he will surround Harden with the best he can during his prime. He can't afford to wait anymore. So the following year is hard to gauge.
Would just hate to see ariza and Lou go and we better not even think about trading bev. Even with his troubles Ryan Anderson is still a threat in this offense. And we just signed him. Eric Gordon better not go anywhere either. Don't even think about trading capela.
Enough Hayward talk. I promise you its Utah or Boston with him and no one else, most definitely not Houston. Now someone will of course say, "why not us? we're in the second round of the playoffs...." so was he. and I can give you tens of millions of dollars worth, or leaving his home of the past what? 7 years? And he's got a coach that he loves in Boston. We're not Golden State or a market like LA. I'm not saying we aren't a popular destination next year, but you can't expect players that are literally in their prime and elite to come to us over real max contracts or a guarantee title contention for the next 4 or 5 years.
I think Houston is a good place if any for these up and coming players who are superstars/borderline superstars.... but not good enough to actually carry a team like Harden, Westbrook, and James.. Houston makes them the #2 option with free reigns, along side a bonifide #1 in Harden.... Houston wouldnt have to part with much to make the cap space work for starting salary.... shed anderson? or ariza and williams? that is a trade anyone would be willing to do... Ideally you would want to use you cap space, especially in 2018, but would the Rockets wait that long? I think if the right trade comes about then sure.... Additionally, I think there is a zero percent chance that hayward comes...... George and Butler seem more like it. Im rooting for the clippers to break up... would love to land DJ here somehow with the likes of George or butler along with Harden. The Rockets are blessed with Harden and success and great front office. The day ahead are bright for the Team.
Lou has done well in a short span of time, but his expiring contract for a couple of 2nd rounders, would give us some cap room.
Giving a 0% chance for Hayward is silly. I agree we aren't the favorites but I think we are top3. I think Utah is the most likely scenario. It's his team, and the most guaranteed money. The potential for a split is there. He's entering his prime and just realized first hand how difficult gsw is. Utah also let him prove on the market he was a Max player rather than sign him to the max outright. So he was willing to walk Utah already to Charlotte of all places. Boston is the seemingly top free agency team. Former head coach who recruited him when he was nobody. A coach he supposedly thinks very highly of. They have a good team and a lot of youth and assets moving forward. Problem is LeBron in the east. Is Bostons roster better or worse than Utah? Houston has just the outside shot. I think we get a meeting but likelihood is minimal. He would have to be won over on system and fit along with James hardens dominance. I think he resigns in Utah. In order for boston/houston to have a chance they would have to make serious noise and scares in the conference finals. For instance if the rockets push golden State to 6 or 7 games I could see it swaying Hayward considering he just realised how difficult it was to win one game. Same goes for Boston vs Cleveland.
I believe we could get a late 1st. For instance, Washington who has no cap space and/or depth. They were already willing to trade a 1st when we acquired him, so I can see them doing it before the season begins. That is of course if we need the cap space.
So we will have roughly 12m in cap spac3 this offseason. Here's a scenario I can see during the draft. Montrezl+pick#45 to phoenix Tyson chandler+pick#32 to houston For Houston we swallow Tyson's contract into our space and gain a very high 2nd (practically late 1st). He becomes the backup defensive big we need. Try and get him to partially or non guarantee his last year but if not oh well. For Phoenix is sheds salary and opens flexibility. Gets a young player on rookie scale and trades down in the 2nd which probably isn't as big a deal for them. Thoughts?
I don't like it, he's too expensive for a backup big and his contract doesn't expire until 2019. You should be getting a backup big for like a third or possibly a fourth of what his yearly salary is, especially when you're 1 of the best teams in the NBA and have limited cap flexibility. We need to identify an older FA that is looking to win that will come here for cheap like Nene did.
Look at the cost for rotation big around the league. People are too caught up into the old cba when his contract was bad. It isn't anymore. He'd be a great defensive presence behind capela and teach him. Ariza, capela and Lou all expire in '18 that's our last swing for the fences offseason. If you need to a 12m expiring contract wouldn't be hard to move. Especially when he has a very good year here. Would you prefer on the open market? Centers are getting 15m+ for being bad to OK. I'm glad we lucked into NeNe but even with him its the biggest area of need to improve. We have 12m in cap space. Who do you want to sign for that? There isn't a better center for that price. Want a wing? Maybe you can get ingles for that price but that still leaves a void in the middle. I'm thinking we look to absorb a contract in the cap space we have rather than sign someone. Could look back into Kostas also.
His contract might not be completely horrible now, but it's still not that desirable. PHX tried to move him at the deadline but couldn't. from Marc Stein "The Suns are actively shopping both Knight and Chandler, but interest has been tepid thus far. Phoenix's biggest challenge in moving either or both players is that they are under contract for multiple years at high salaries." Chandler is already 34, and still has 2 years left on his deal. He's missed 51 games the last 2 years. I would rather go after a guy like Dewayne Dedmon in free agency if we are targeting a backup big. Do u think he's getting 15+ mil in free agency? In a trade, I wouldn't mind going after a guy like Kyle O'Quinn. The Knicks have shopped him the last 2 trade deadlines, and he's on a very good contract. He's a good rebounder and shot blocker who produces when given minutes. He can also hit a midrange jumper and has flashed some passing skills.
I do think Dedmond gets 13-14m+. I would love o'quinn but the Knicks aren't moving him, they are gonna try to dump Noah. Like I said I try and get Tyson to partially or non guarantee his last year and if not I don't think it's that big of an anchor especially if it's after next year as an expiring contract.
So if we traded for Chandler, I take it your plan would be bring back this same squad and go all in on 2018 free agency? It would be Paul George or bust for me. I've read that the cap is projected to increase by only 1 mil so we wouldn't have any cap space heading into 2018 FA. If we get rid of Ariza and Lou's cap hold and somehow find a way to dump Ryno, then that should get us up to a max for PG. We'd have a hole at PF tho, so we'd probably have to dump Chandler and try to find a starting PF for 10-12 mil. Then we could match Capela's offer in restricted free agency and would have to find a cheap backup C.
First order of business is to trade Ryan Anderson. Move him to Sacramento for a couple of second Rd picks.
Dump Lou/Ryan, sign Holiday/Mirotic, trade Dekker/Harrell/picks for Covington/O'Quinn Beverley / Holiday Harden / Gordon Ariza Mirotic / Covington Capela / O'Quinn Improved perimeter and inside defense, defensive rebounding and passing while maintaining same 3pt shooting.
Guys I hate to break it to you , but at 18 mil and after this postseason performance, with his injury history ..... We aren't gonna be able to "dump" Ryan . 1) we don't have a first rounder to trade 2) teams aren't going to want him unless they are getting good assets in exchange . I'd rather not give up good young players just to get rid of Ryan I think our best hope for him is that Dekker/ Harrell surpass him and he becomes and expensive luxury player off the bench .
I personally think it can be done, without attaching an asset, if anything I think we could get a 2nd back possibly. Anderson has a specific talent that multiple teams want, he is the best shooting big man in the league by far. Unfortunately, he doesn't do nearly anything else like rebound or defend which the Rockets currently need, but he can knock down 200+ 3's at 40%, and from a 29 year old who's 6'10 250, that has a lot of value in the league today. The reason the Rockets gave Anderson that money is because it's what the other teams were offering (Wizards/Kings) I also think Anderson having his healthiest season since 2013, and the Rockets success counterweights him having a poor playoff performance. (BTW he has his averages up to 10/5 on 42/30/87 which isn't horrid like it was with just the OKC series). I can see Portland, Wizards, Hawks, Pistons, Heat all being takers for him, with other potential teams like Nuggets/Hornets/Wolves/Bucks/Bulls. About a 3rd or more of the league could use an elite shooting big depending on how FA goes.
We need to trade Eric Gordon his value will be as high as it ever been. I say trade him and minor assets for best player available. after last night performance I see hes not that guy
Can we buy Spurs mills and simmons next year, they have end the contracts. These guys are key man of spurs in defensive. It can improve houston bench power and rotation. I think they are not expensive , morey should consider to buy it.